High annual radon concentration in dwellings and natural radioactivity content in nearby soil in some rural areas of Kosovo and Metohija

Some previous studies on radon concentration in dwellings of some areas of Kosovo and Metohija have revealed a high average radon concentration, even though the detectors were exposed for three months only. In order to better design a larger study in this region, the annual measurements in 25 houses were carried out as a pilot study. For each house, CR-39-based passive devices were exposed in two rooms for the two consecutive six-month periods to account for seasonal variations of radon concentration. Furthermore, in order to correlate the indoor radon with radium in nearby soil and to improve the knowledge of the natural radioactivity in the region, soil samples near each house were collected and 226Ra, 232Th, 40K activity concentration were measured. The indoor radon concentration resulted quite high from the average (163 Bq/m3) and generally it did not differ considerably between the two rooms and the two six-month periods. The natural radionuclides in soil resulted to be distributed quite uniformly. Moreover, the correlation between the226Ra content in soil and radon concentration in dwellings resulted to be low (R2=0.26). The annual effective dose from radon and its short-lived progeny (5.5 mSv, in average) was calculated by using the last ICRP dose conversion factors. In comparison, the contribution to the annual effective dose of outdoor gamma exposure from natural radionuclides in soil is nearly negligible (66 mSv). In conclusion, the observed high radon levels are only partially correlated with radium in soil; moreover, a good estimate of the annual average of radon concentration can be obtained from a six-month measurement with a proper choice of exposure period, which could be useful when designing large surveys

THz packaging solution for low cost si-based 40 Gb/s wireless link system

This paper presents an innovative low-cost transmitter solution aimed at improving telecommunication networks capacities in order to support the massive data traffic growth. Sub-THz frequencies > 200 GHz are considered to target at least 40 Gb/s. The proposed transmitter consists of a Silicon Photonic integrated sub-THz source and an industrial antenna integrated in HDI organic packaging substrate. As these components were experimentally evaluated, a real-time error free wireless data transmission of 10 Gb/s was successfully achieved and an antenna gain of 5.5 dBi was measured in the broadside direction from 220 GHz to 240 GHz (8.7% relative bandwidth). With the addition of a low-cost dielectric lens, a gain of 17 dBi was reached.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Priming Analogical Reasoning with False Memories

Like true memories, false memories are capable of priming answers to insight-based problems. Recent research has attempted to extend this paradigm to more advanced problem-solving tasks, including those involving verbal analogical reasoning. However, these experiments are constrained inasmuch as problem solutions could be generated via spreading activation mechanisms (much like false memories themselves) rather than using complex reasoning processes. In three experiments we examined false memory priming of complex analogical reasoning tasks in the absence of simple semantic associations. In Experiment 1, we demonstrated the robustness of false memory priming in analogical reasoning when backward associative strength among the problem terms was eliminated. In Experiments 2a and 2b, we extended these findings by demonstrating priming on newly created homonym analogies that can only be solved by inhibiting semantic associations within the analogy. Overall, the findings of the present experiments provide evidence that the efficacy of false memory priming extends to complex analogical reasoning problems

Exploration of sulphide minerals in difficult mountain-geological conditions (on the example of Talnakhskiy sulphide unit)

Mining-geological conditions of mineral field of Talnakhskiy Sulphide Unit are presented. Particularities of exploration systems of sulphide copper-nickel minerals of Oktyabrskiy and Talnakhskiy fields were reviewed

A compact, universal and cost-efficient antenna setup for mmW-radar applications

A compact antenna setup, that can be used for e.g. radar applications, will be presented in this paper. The antenna is formed by an antipodal Vivaldi design on a 50 m thin liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate. The feeding line is designed as grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW). In the direction of radiation, the antenna is followed by a dielectric cone of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), whereby the front of the cone terminates in a radial lens shape for beamforming purposes. The presented setup is designed and built for W-band (75 to 110 GHz) operation, the concept itself can also be used for any other frequency range. Performance measurements, as well as comparisons with previous simulation results will be presented

Lens coupled broadband slot antenna for W-band imaging applications

In this paper a broadband integrated lens antenna (ILA) for 94 GHz center frequency is presented. The antenna is made on liquid crystal polymere (LCP) substrate with a lens made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) beneath it. It has a gain over 20 dBi with a return loss well below -10 dB over 35% bandwidth. Comparison between measured and simulated results shows good agreement

Field Experience on Indoor Radon, Thoron and Their Progenies with Solid-State Detectors in a Survey of Kosovo and Metohija (Balkan Region)

Since 1996/97, indoor radon has been measured in scattered locations around Kosovo. In the most recent campaign, apart from radon, thoron and Rn and Tn progenies have also been measured. The current survey involves 48 houses, in which different detectors have been deployed side-by-side in one room, in order to measure indoor radon and thoron gas with RADUET devices based on CR-39 detectors (analysed by Japanese collaborators) and with direct thoron and radon progeny sensor (DTPS and DRPS) devices based on LR-115 detectors (analysed by collaborators from India). Estimated arithmetic mean values of concentrations in 48 houses are 122 Bq m(-3) for radon and 136 Bq m(-3) for thoron. Those for equilibrium equivalent radon concentration and equilibrium equivalent thoron concentration based on measurements in 48 houses are 40 and 2.1 Bq m(-3), respectively. The arithmetic mean value of the equilibrium factor is estimated to be 0.50 +/- 0.23 for radon and 0.037 +/- 0.041 for thoron. The preliminary results of these measurements are reported, particularly regarding DTPS and DRPS being set up in real field conditions for the first time in the Balkan region. The results are to be understood under the caveat of open questions related to measurement protocols which yield reproducible and representative results, and to quality assurance of Tn and Rn/Tn progeny measurements in general, some of which are discussed.International Symposium on Natural Radiation Exposure and Low-dose Radiation Epidemiological Studies, Feb 29-Mar 03, 2012, Hirosaki Univ Inst Radiat Med, Hirosaki, Japa